Cleveland Cavaliers notes: Wizards' Wittman, Miller were together in Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers' Luol Deng, center, from Sudan, puts up a shot against Washington Wizards' Kevin Seraphin, left, from France, and Nene Hilario, from Brazil, in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman was the coach of the Cavaliers the year they drafted point guard Andre Miller.
Wittman spent two seasons as Cavs coach — 1999-2000 and 2000-01 — which were Miller’s first two years in the NBA.
Now, 14 years later, the two have been reunited with the Wizards. Washington traded for the 37-year-old point guard on Feb. 20.
Wittman said he just talked to the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Miller about their time in Cleveland.
Miller made his debut with the Wizards on Saturday in their win over New Orleans. He had five points, three rebounds and three assists in 16 minutes.
“It was about what I expected,” Wittman said. “He’s still getting his legs underneath him. He gave us good direction out there. He made plays for others. He doesn’t know what we’re doing yet. He’s still getting the terminology down.”
Cavs coach Mike Brown has never coached Miller. But he’s loved him as a player.
“He’s been around a long time,” he said. “In my opinion, he’s helped everyone he’s been with. He has one of the highest basketball IQs I’ve ever coached against or seen play.
“The scary part about it, he might be able to play for another 10 years. He’s never relied on his quickness or athleticism to get by. Everything is about angles, intelligence and his ability to pass and read. He can help anybody. He’ll definitely help Washington.”
The Wizards sent forward Jan Vesely to Denver in the deal, along with guard Eric Maynor and a second-round pick to Philadelphia.
“It was a such a no-brainer for us,” Wittman said.D-League call-up
Besides playing basketball, Arinze Onuaku played football for his high school in Virginia.
He was a 6-9, 275-pound tight end.
“I only played one year, (my) junior year of high school,” Onuaku said. “That was my one year to have my fun.”
And smash poor defensive backs trying to tackle him.
“(I was about the) same size as I am now,” Onuaku said. “We had a lot of fun and won a lot of games.”
Onuaku was signed to a 10-day contract by the Cavaliers on Feb. 22. After practicing with the Cavs at Cleveland Clinic Courts, he was assigned to the Canton Charge for their game against the Texas Legends in National Basketball Development League action. He had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Charge’s 118-106 victory.
He was recalled on Feb. 23 by the Cavs.
Onuaku, who was undrafted out of Syracuse, said the Charge players watch almost every Cavs game. He’s familiar with the Cavs’ schemes since Charge coach Steve Hetzel runs the same offense and defense.
“When (the Cavs) call certain plays, I’m familiar with what they’re doing,” Onuaku said.
He describes himself as being a “physical big who can rebound the ball. I set great screens and can finish around the rim. I do all the little things that every team needs to get over the hump.”Zeller’s emergence
In his previous three games, Cavs center Tyler Zeller has averaged 14 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. One could make a case it’s his best stretch of basketball since he’s come to the NBA.
He’s also shooting 56 percent from the field (14 of 25) and 87.5 percent from the foul line (14 of 16).Injury report
All three of the Cavs’ injured players were out: center Anderson Varejao (sore back), shooting guard Dion Waiters (hyperextended left knee) and swingman C.J. Miles (sprained left ankle).
Varejao has missed six games in a row. He shot around after practice on Feb. 22, but Brown said there’s no timetable for his return.
Miles had been on crutches. He turned them into the trainers on Sunday, but isn’t close to playing.
Miles said the first step is to get the swelling out of his ankle.Mid-range game
Newcomer Spencer Hawes said he’s a natural mid-range shooter.
“In this day in age with analytics, that’s the part of the floor you don’t want most of your shots to come from,” he said. “I want to be more efficient.”
Hawes’ uncle, Steve, was second-second pick of the Cavs in 1972. He never played for the Cavs, as he played in Venice for two years before coming to the NBA.
“I’ve never seen him play,” Hawes said. “He was a high post, pick-and-pop player. From all accounts, (he was) similar to how I played. But he had the hook.”
Road warriors?
The Wizards have made huge strides this year, none better than their 13-14 road record (before Feb. 23).
Wittman said that has been the biggest difference in this year’s resurgence.

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Bob has covered the Cavs for The News-Herald and Morning Journal since 1995. He's a graduate of Kent State University and New Philadelphia High School. Reach the author at rfinnan@news-herald.com
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